Alexander Tatarinov bulked up 25 pounds since being drafted and is developing into a physical forward. He is a very energetic player on the ice and in shorthanded situations often plays the agitator role

Back In Russia:

Alexander Tatarinov was born in Sverdlovsk, Russia. At a young age he was invited to join Spartak Moscow’s hockey school. After spending only a single season with the team, Alexander, along with several other promising 2000 NHL Draft prospects, left Spartak Moscow and joined Torpedo Yaroslavl, which at the time was coached by the Russian National Jr. Team coach, Petr Vorobiev. Alexander spent the next season with Torpedo’s junior farm team, Torpedo 2. During the 2000-01 training camp, Alexander played well, but did not make Lokomotiv Yarsoalvl’s roster and was shipped off to Kristal Saratov of the Russian Upper League. He remained with Kristal for all of the regular season and rejoined Lokomotiv in the playoffs, playing one game. Alexander continued to improve and played well in international competition. During the 2001-02 training camp, Alexander played well, earning a spot on Lokomotiv’s fourth line. During the 2001-02 season the right wing on Lokomotiv’s first line suffered an injury and Tatarinov was promoted temporarily replace him. He played very well on the line with Samylin and Vladimir Antipov for 15 games. The line’s main assignment was to disrupt the cohesion and effectiveness of the opposition’s top forwards and then move on capitalize on counterattacks. Alexander fit in well in that role, and despite low production, has played a solid physical brand of hockey.

International Competition:
Alexander Tatarinov has been a member of the Russian National Team since 1998, when he joined the DOB 1982 team at the Four Nations Tournament. His most significant International performance thus far, occurred at the 2000 U18 World Junior Chamionships. There he scored three goals and set up two others in six games, earning a respectable +6 rating. Since then, Alexander has often been invited to the Russian National Team training camp, but has represented his country intermittingly. During the 2001-02 season he has returned to the International arena and appeared in two tournaments for U20 Team Russia.

NHL Outlook:

Alexander Tatarinov is a talented forward. He is resilient and has learned to play physical hockey on the top line of the top Russian Team. When Phoenix Coyotes drafted him 53rd overall in the 2nd round of the 2000 NHL Entry Draft, they actually got a better player then his draft number. Alexander has matured beyond his age in the last couple of seasons and has being assigned leading roles on the strongest team in Russia’s hockey. Alexander Tatarinov will likely stay in Russia for the 2002-03 season with Lokomotiv Yaroslavl. He will likely be handed increased responsibility by Vladimir Vujtek and this time remain on one Lokomotiv’s top two lines. If he is invited to Phoenix’s training camp this summer and decides to make the move, he will make a strong bid for an NHL spot this coming ’02 summer. He is already mature enough to see fourth line duty on an NHL team, but would probably be better off honing his skills on a top line in the AHL, a la Yuri Butsayev of the Red Wings.